Solid Immersion Lens for High-Resolution Thermal Radiation Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional passive infrared microscopes struggle to achieve high space resolution when measuring thermal radiation of liquids or objects containing liquids, as they are limited by diffraction and cannot distinguish between background radiation and target signal effectively, leading to incomplete heat generation data and excitation of sensitive objects like biomolecules.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method utilizing a sample cell with a partially cut sphere lens for close contact with the object, allowing interference phenomena to distinguish target signals from background radiation, and a vibrational controller to enhance space resolution by controlling the distance and vibration, while using materials with low absorption coefficients for improved signal detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a conventional passive infrared microscope is used, then thermal radiation measurement is possible, but space resolution is limited by diffraction and cannot achieve high resolution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a solid immersion lens with a spherical cross-section that contacts the liquid sample surface. This spherical geometry enables the lens to function as both a focusing element and a medium for interference measurement, achieving high space resolution by utilizing the curvature-induced interference patterns rather than relying solely on diffraction-limited optical resolution
Solution Approach 2:
The solid immersion lens acts as an intermediary between the infrared detector and the liquid sample. It mediates the thermal radiation detection by creating interference patterns that encode spatial information, allowing the system to achieve high resolution without requiring complex optical pathways or multiple measurement components
2Measurement precision
If conventional measurement methods are used on liquids, then surface temperature information is obtained, but accurate heat generation information cannot be acquired due to cooling by heat of vaporization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent measures thermal radiation at the liquid-gas interface rather than attempting to measure the entire liquid volume. By focusing measurement on the surface layer where thermal radiation is emitted, the system obtains accurate heat generation information without being affected by bulk liquid cooling effects
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces contact-based temperature measurement methods with non-contact infrared thermal radiation detection. This substitution eliminates mechanical or thermal interference with the liquid sample, avoiding the cooling effect that would occur with physical probes while accurately measuring heat generation at the interface
3Productivity
If strong external light is applied during infrared measurement, then measurement can proceed, but biomolecules or cells are excited and faint target signals become undetectable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the periodic nature of thermal radiation emission and interference patterns to distinguish target signals from background radiation. By measuring at specific phases of the interference pattern created by the solid immersion lens, the system can detect faint thermal signals without requiring strong external illumination
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits changes in the thermal radiation spectrum (infrared wavelength region) to detect target signals. By focusing on specific wavelength regions where the sample emits characteristic thermal radiation and using the solid immersion lens to enhance these signals through interference, the system achieves sensitive detection without exciting biomolecules with visible or UV light
4Measurement precision
If passive method is used for extremely minute objects, then measurement is possible, but radiation intensity decreases with radiation area making high space resolution extremely difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The solid immersion lens with spherical cross-section creates strong interference patterns even for minute samples. The curved surface geometry concentrates and enhances the weak thermal radiation from small objects, making high space resolution measurement of minute objects like cells possible despite their low radiation intensity
Solution Approach 2:
The solid immersion lens serves as an intermediary that amplifies the weak thermal radiation signal from minute objects. By positioning the lens in direct contact with the sample and utilizing interference effects, the system enhances the already-faint radiation from small objects, enabling high-resolution measurement without requiring larger sample sizes
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables high space resolution and accurate distinction between background and target signals, suppressing cooling effects and preventing signal attenuation, allowing for precise thermal radiation measurement at the liquid-solid interface.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing interference light between the object to be measured and the lens makes it easy to adjust the parallelism with respect to the lens and the distance from the lens required in actual measurement for achieving high space resolution and accurate extraction of a target signal
Implementation Method 2
a first lens formed by partially cutting a sphere so that a cross section forms a plane... the focus of a second lens is placed on at least a part of the object to be measured located on the base or close to the base
Implementation Method 3
a vibrational controller which allows one of the object to be measured and the first lens to vibrate with respect to the other and controls a frequency of the vibration
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus 100 for measuring thermal radiation in one mode of the present invention is used for detecting thermal radiation of an object 12 to be measured. The apparatus 100 is provided with: a sample cell 10 which includes the object 12 to be measured which is a liquid or an object containing liquid, and a housing part which houses the object 12 to be measured and includes one wall formed of a base 16 transmitting a wavelength of the thermal radiation; a first lens 20 formed by partially cutting a sphere so that a cross section forms a plane, wherein the sample cell 10 is arranged so that, when the base 16 is in close contact with the plane of the first lens 20, focus of a second lens is placed on at least a part of the object 12 to be measured, for example, located on the base 16, the second lens including the first lens 20 and the base 16 and used for detecting the thermal radiation through the first lens 20; a position controller 60 which controls one of the object 12 to be measured and the first lens 20 so as to be able to abut on and separate from the other in an optical axis direction; a vibrational controller 40 which allows one of the object to be measured and the first lens to vibrate with respect to the other and controls a frequency of the vibration; and a detector 70 which detects the thermal radiation through the first lens 20.